FILED
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9:50 am, 3/30/20
FOR THE DISTRICT OF WYOMING
Margaret Botkins
Clerk of Court
GENERAL ORDER:
VIDEO AND TELECONFERENCES GENERAL ORDER NO. 20-03
IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS UNDER
THE CORONAVIRUS AID ACT
GENERAL ORDER AUTHORIZING VIDEO OR TELEPHONE
FOR CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS
This matter comes before the Court sua sponte regarding authorization to conduct criminal
proceedings by video and telephone conferences pursuant to the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security Act," H.R. 748 (the "Act"). The Act authorizes Federal Courts to use video or telephone
conferencing for hearing certain criminal matters, provided: (a) each defendant consents to the use of such
equipment, after consulting with counsel; and (b) the Judicial Conference finds emergency conditions
caused by COVID 19 will materially affect the functioning of the Courts. On March 29, 2020, the Judicial
Conference made a finding and emergency declaration covering the District of Wyoming. In accordance
with Section 15002(b)(1) of the Act, as the Chief Judge for the District of Wyoming I hereby authorize
the use of video conferencing, or telephone conferencing if video conferencing is not reasonably available,
for the following matters:
(A) Detention Hearings under 18 U.S.C. § 3142 1 ;
(C) Preliminary hearings under Fed. R. Crim. P. 5.1;
(D) Waivers of indictment under Fed. R. Crim. P. 7(b);
(F) Probation and supervised release revocations under Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.1;
(G) Pretrial release revocations under 18 U.S.C. § 3148;
(H) Appearances under Fed. R. Crim. P. 40; and
(J) Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act proceedings under 18 U.S.C. § 403, except for contested
transfer hearings and juvenile delinquency or trial proceedings.
1
To avoid confusion, this Order adopts the enumeration for various hearings as used in the Act.
